Wall Street is terrified of Donald Trump. Again. You’d think the business world would have gotten used to him by now, but apparently not. According to Financial News London, Trump’s return to the White House has sent shivers down the spines of the financial elite. Why? Because they fear he might actually do what he says: disrupt the status quo, slash regulations, and hold their feet to the fire. The irony, of course, is that these very policies could be the best thing to happen to Wall Street in years.
Let’s not forget, Wall Street didn’t exactly embrace Trump during his first term. The financial establishment saw him as unpredictable, unrefined, and—let’s be honest—uncontrollable. He wasn’t one of them, and that made them nervous. But here’s the thing: despite all the pearl-clutching, the Trump years were very good for Wall Street. The stock market soared, tax cuts boosted corporate profits, and deregulation gave businesses the breathing room they needed to grow. It turns out that Trump’s America First agenda was pretty good for America’s economy.
So why the fear now? Part of it is the nature of Wall Street itself. The financial elite thrive on predictability, and Trump is anything but predictable. They’d much rather deal with a milquetoast politician who plays by the rules of the establishment than a disruptor who doesn’t care whose toes he steps on. For Wall Street, stability is the golden goose, and Trump’s willingness to shake things up makes them nervous. But nervousness isn’t the same as bad policy.
In fact, Trump’s policies are exactly what Wall Street claims to want: lower taxes, fewer regulations, and an economy that rewards innovation and hard work. But the financial elite have a habit of overthinking things. They see Trump’s rhetoric and forget about the results. They worry about his tone and ignore the fact that their portfolios grew under his leadership. It’s like complaining about the chef’s attitude while eating a perfectly cooked steak.
Of course, it’s not just about economics. Wall Street’s discomfort with Trump goes deeper, into the realm of culture and politics. The financial elite like to see themselves as global citizens, free from the petty concerns of nationalism or populism. Trump, on the other hand, is unapologetically America First. He doesn’t care about impressing the Davos crowd or bowing to international pressure. For Wall Street, that kind of unapologetic patriotism feels, well, a little unsophisticated.
But here’s the funny part: Wall Street’s fear of Trump might actually be good for the country. When the financial elite are uncomfortable, it usually means someone is holding them accountable. Trump has made it clear that he’s not interested in being a puppet for big business or Wall Street. He’s more concerned with Main Street than hedge funds, and that’s a refreshing change. The fact that this makes Wall Street nervous is a feature, not a bug.
The other reason for Wall Street’s unease is the unpredictability of Trump’s second-term agenda. While his first term was marked by tax cuts and deregulation, his second could focus more on breaking up monopolies, reining in Big Tech, and leveling the playing field for smaller businesses. These are policies that could ruffle some feathers in the financial world but would ultimately benefit the broader economy. And isn’t that what conservatives have always argued for? A free market that rewards competition, not cronyism.
At the end of the day, Wall Street’s fear of Trump says more about them than it does about him. They’re not scared of bad policies; they’re scared of losing their grip on the system. They’re scared of a president who doesn’t owe them anything and isn’t afraid to call them out. But if Trump’s first term taught us anything, it’s that sometimes a little fear can be a good thing. It keeps people honest, and in Washington—and Wall Street—that’s a rare commodity.
So let Wall Street clutch its pearls and fret about Trump’s unpredictability. The rest of us can look forward to an administration that puts the country first, even if it makes the financial elite a little uncomfortable. After all, isn’t that what real leadership is about? Not catering to the powerful, but doing what’s right for the people who make this country great. If that scares Wall Street, maybe it’s time they took a long, hard look in the mirror.
